Type-writing machine.



L. R. ROBERTS. TYPE WRITING MACHiNE.

v APPLl'CATlON FILED JULY 18, 1914. 1'.'177,275. Patented Mar. 28,1916.

2 SHEETSISHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOR= BY 7 g; I I I] ATTORNZ;

L. R. ROBERTS.

TYPE WRITING'MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1914.

1 17 7.27 5. Patented Mar. 28,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES I I BY W I fin ED STATES, PATENT union.

LYMAN R. ROBERTS, 0F RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER COMYANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CGRPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Original application filed May 14, 1913,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYMAN R. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Rutherford, in the county of Ber en and Stateot New Jersey, have invente certain new and useful Improvements in Type- Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to typewriting machines constructed and adapted for use as billing"machines, or for work Where it is desirable to support work-sheets of diflerent characters on the platen to receive a common record, or to permit-the relative positions of the work-sheets on the platen to be changed. l

A feature of the invention is the provision of means to support on a rotary platen superposed work-sheets of different characters, as, for example, ledger sheets, statement sheets, and proof sheets, with interposed nanifoldingsheets, independent holding means being provided for the inner and outer work-sheets to permit adjustment or changes in their relative position on the platen.

The platen, as shown, is in form of the section of a cylinder, with a printing area suflicient to accommodate a large work-sheet such as a ledger sheet, and it is provided along its opposite edges with independently operable clamps or holders for the worksheets, so that the sheet or sheets may be supported on the platen and held by the clamps along one edge of thenplaten, and superposed work-sheets may be held by the clamps along the other edge; the arrangement permitting independent adjustment of the sheets. The clamps project through openings in the platen and are adapted to be lifted into position to receive the worksheets. The work-sheets are'each provided along one or both edges with notches spaced to correspond with the ruling on the paper, the clamps being suitably spaced to enter the notches and having overhanging ends to grip the work-sheet. This arrangement serves to aline the work-sheet and permits its adjustment in line-space direction through distances corresponding to the rulings on the sheets, and holds the latter with the rulings on the superposed sheets directly under each other. The platen is rotatably mounted on a carriage driven by a spring Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

Serial No. 767,499. Divided and this application fil ed July 18, 1914. SerialNo.851,'707.

motor, the letter-feed travel of the carriage being controlled by an escapement mechanism actuated from the typekeys, which.

also actuate the type bars in the usual manner.

This case is a division of my application No. 767,499, filed May 14, 1913.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an end elevation view of a typewriting machine constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a do} tail sectional vlew illustrating the clamps for the work-sheet, and the means to actuate the clamps. Fig. 3 is a part sectional front elevation View of the machine. Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken longitudinally of the platen and illustrating the clamps and the way in which the work-sheets are placed in position. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the clamps. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the line-space mechanism.

The platen 1 is rotatably mounted in a travelingplaten frame or carriage 2 driven by a spring motor 3 connected through a band 4: o the carriage. Bearing lugs 5 on the platen frame are slidable on a stationary carriage rail 6 on the machine frame 7. The front of the plat frame has a bearing roller 8, which r .s on a stationary guide rail 9. The platen axle 10 is seated in bearings 11, and leaf springs 13 hearing on the upper surface of the platen axle serve to prevent accidental displacement of the platen. The platen may be rotated by means of hand wheels 14 on the ends of the platen axle, or any suitable form of line-space mechanism.

As herein shown,'the line-space mechanism comprises" a lever 15 pivoted at 16 to the platen frame and having at its rear end a pivoted spring-pressed pawl 17 cooperating with a rack 18 on the left-hand of the platen, the pawl 17 having a fingerpiece 17 for lifting the pawl from the rack. The lever 15 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by a spring 19. When the free end of the lever is depressed, it is carried to the position shown in Fig 6, the platen being rotated withit a distance of one line-space. As the lever returns, the pawl rides idly over the rack and engages the next lower tooth of the rack. The

by springs 28. Each set'of clamps is arplaten is held against accidental rotation by means of a spring detent 20 having a curved end 21 which is held between adjacent rack teeth, as shown in Fig. 3.

The platen is preferably in the form of a section of a cylinder, and as herein shown is substantially semi-cylindrical. It will be understood that the platen surface may ex tend through a greater or less arc, and in some instances may form a complete cylinder. The platen is of large diameter, so that the printing area is sufficient to accommodate any work-sheet it may be desired'gto place thereon. 'The radius of curvature'is also preferably large, so that it is not necessary to bend or curve the work-sheet sufficiently to prevent it from readilyconforming to the platen surface, and to facilitate the positioning and clamping of the worksheet. The machine is particularly adapted for keeping accounts where several sheets of different characters are grouped together, and the same record made on all the sheets by a single printing operation. For example, a ledger sheet 22 is placed in position on the platen, and over this may )oe placed'a statement sheet 23, and a proof sheet 24, manifolding sheets or carbons 25 being interposed between the work-sheets.

The means for holding the work-sheets in position comprise clamps 26 extending through the platen and having offset ends 27 which overhang the work-sheets and clamp them against the surface of the platen. The clamps are held in clamping position ranged in an arc of a circle, there being one set of clamps adjacent each end of the platen. Each set of clamps is released by means of an arc-shaped bar 29 having cam surfaces. 30 to engage the clamps and lift them to releasing position.

The cam bar 29 is mounted on the under side of the platen by means of brackets 31 secured to or formed integral with the bar and slidably held against the inner face of the platen by shouldered screws 33 extending through slots 34 in the brackets and threaded into the platen. An arm 35 on the cam bar projects through a slot 36 in the platen, and has a knob or handle 37 for op erating the bar.- Then the handle 37, is

moved forward into the position shown in Fig. 2, the cams 30 lift the clamps 26, as shown in Fig.2, and the right-hand end of Fig. 4. When the clamps are thus lifted, a work-sheet may be placed on the platen and moved laterally, as indicated by the arrow.

(Fig. 4), into .position, the clamps entering notches 38 in the edge of the work-sheet. The handle 37 may now be moved backward to release the cams from the clamps and allow the springs 28 to pull the clamps in ward, so that their overhang ng ends 27 grip the work-sheet, as indicated at the leftopposite sides of axis, the type-bar hand end of Fig. 4. The notches 38 are directly over the lines on the sheet or sheets beneath it. v

The printing of the work-sheets is effected by types 39 and type bars 40 pivoted on a curved fulcrum rod 41 and actuated by finger-keys 42 on key levers 43 connected through bell crank levers 44 to their type bars. The levers 43 are pivoted at 45, so that when a finger-key is depressed the corresponding bell crank 44 operates to throw its connected type bar up to printing position in front of the platen. The type bars may be arranged in a well known manner in an arc-shaped or quadrant frame 40.

The letter-feed movement of the carriage is controlled by an escapement'mechanism comprising an escapement wheel 46 driven by a pinion 47 in mesh with a rack 48 on the carriage. Escapement dogs 49 and 50,which rock on a fulcrum 51, are connected through a link 52 to an arm 53 on a rock shaft 54 to which are also secured rock arms 55 car- 'rying a universal bar 56, actuated by shouL ders 57 on the type bars.

The rack 48'is carried on arms pivoted at 59 to the platen frame. An arm 60 connected to an arm 58 (Fig. 1) is connected through a link. 61 to a lever 62 having. a finger-piece 63 which, when depressed, operates to lift the rack 48 free of the pinion 47, permitting the carriageto be moved freely in either direction.

A pointer 64 working over a scale 65 may be provided if desired. Spring-pressed arms or wings 66 may be placed, if desired, on the printing point to guide and hold the work-sheet against the platen at the printing point.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the'invention, and improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotary platen of large diameter, of type-bars pivoted in front of the platen to swing upwardly and rearwardly to printing osition, the printing point being substantially in the horizontal plane of the platen pivots being at a higher elevation than the lower surface of the platen, and keys for actuating the type-bars.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combinationwith azarotary platen of large diamportions of the i eter, of type-bars pivoted in front of the platen to swing upwardly and rearwardly to printing position, the printing point bea carriage on which the platen is mounted,

escapement mechanism located below the platen and forward of the platen axle, and means controlled by the type-bars to actuate said escapement mechanism.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combi-,

nation with a rotary platen of large diameter to form a collating board on which worksheets may-be mounted while the platen is at rest, means to secure the work-sheets in position on the platen, type-bars pivoted in front of the platen, keys to actuate the typebars, a carriage on which the platen is mounted, escapement mechanism controlling the letter-feed movement of the car riage, a swinging universal bar mounted on the machine frame in front of the platen and operated by the type-bars, and a connection between the universal bar-and the escapement mechanism for actuating the latter.

4. In a-typewriting machine, the combina tion with a machine frame, of a carriage thereon, a rotaryv platen of large diameter mounted on the carriage, a motor to drive the carriage,,escapement mechanism controlling the letter-feed'movements of the carriage, key-operated type-bars, and line-space mechanism to rotate the platen, said linespace. mechanism, type-bars, escapement mechanism and motor being located beneath and in fro'nt'of the platen.

, 5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a machine frame, of a carriage, front and rear guide rails on which the carriage is mounted to travel, said front guide rail being in frontof the platen and the rear guide rail below the platen and near the vertical'plane of the platen axle, a motor to drive the carriage, an escapement mechanism controlling the letter-feed travel of the carriage, said escapement mechanism and motor being in front of the, rear guide rail, and key-operated type-bars located forward of the rear'guide rail.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combinationvwith a platen of large diameter to per mit work-sheets to be arranged thereon while the platen is at rest, and means to secure the work-sheets in position on the platen, of a carriage on which the platen is mounted, said platen having its axis near the vertical plane of the rear end of the-machineframe whereby the platen may extend rearwardly beyond the machine frame, mechanism located below and forward of the platen axle for driving the carriage and controlling the Ie'ttenfeed travel thereof, and a type system located in front of the platen.

7. In altypewriting machine, the combination with a machineframe and a carriage, of a front guide rail for the carriage on the upper front portion of the machine frame, a rear'guide rail for the carriage on the lower rear portion of the machine frame, and a platen on the carriage having its axle on the upper part of the carriage and substantially in the plane of the front guide rail, whereby the portion of the platen above its axle lies above the machine frame and carriage.

8. In aftypewriting machine, the combination of a segment of such large curvature and area as to form a sheet-collating table permitting the assembling thereon while in one position of a mainledger sheet and other sheets or forms overlying one another in different positions on the table, a carriage on which the table is rotatably mounted, and types to strike against the table, the surface of the table being curved concentric to its axis of rotation and having a printingfield to support the Work-sheets when struck by the types, the table thereby serving as a combined collatingtable and platen, the carriage having a letter-feed movement in a direction parallel with said axis of rotation, the table being mounted to project above the carriage and machine frame when in said position for the assembling of the work-sheets thereon, but rotatable about its axis to bring said surface be-, low the upper level of the carriage and machine frame, and thereby materially reduce to its axis of otation and having a printing field to support the work-sheets when struck by the types, the table thereby serving as a combined collating table and platen, said table being substantially semi-cylindrical in form and mounted with its axis atthe rear portion of the machine frame and carriage, so that said table, when in position for adjustment of the worksheets thereon, projects rearwardly beyond the machine frame and carriage, and is rotatable to carry the sheet-supporting surface forward of its axis of rotation, and thereby materially reduce the dimensions of the machine from front to rear. 7

10. In a typewriting machine,- the combination'of a segment of such large curvature and area as to form a sheet-collating table permitting the assembling thereon While in one position of a main ledger sheet and other sheets or forms overlying one another in different positions on the table, a carriage on which the table .is rotatably mounted, and types to strike against the table, the surface of the table being curved concentric to its axis of rotation and having a printing field to support the work-sheets when struck by the types, the table thereby serving as a combined collating table and platen, the platen axis being adjacent the upper rear corner or portion of the combined machine frame and carriage, whereby the platen, of the work-sheets thereon, extends upwardly and rearwardly beyond its support,

said platen being rotatable about its axis to carry the sheet-supporting surface either in front of or below its axis of rotation, thereby enabling either the vertical or the forward and rearward dimensions of the machine to be reduced.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a segment of such large curvature and area as to form a sheet-collating table permitting the assembling thereon while in one position of a main ledger sheet and other sheets or forms overlying one another in different positions on the table, a carriage on which the table is rotatably mounted, and types to strike against the table, the surface of the table being curved concentric to its axis of rotation and having a printing field to support the work-sheets when struck by the types, the table thereby serving as a combined collating table and platen, the platen axis being adjacent the upper rear corner or portion of the combined machine frame and carriage, whereby the platen, of the work-sheets thereon, extends upwardly and rearwardly beyond its support,

Copies of this patentmay be obtained for to swing upwardly when in position for adjustment when in position for adjustment five cents each,

said platen being rotatable about its axis to carry the sheet-supporting surface either in front of or below its axis of rotation, thereby enabling either the Vertical or the forward and rearward dimensions of the machine to be reduced, the types being mounted and rearwardly to the printing line, their fulcrums being located forwardly of and below the platen axis, but above the lower surface of the platen when the latter is in an upright position.

12. Ina tvpewriting machine, the combination with a segmental platen of such large curvature and area as to form a sheetcollating board or tablepermitting, while in one position, the assembling thereon of a main ledger or analogous sheet and other sheets or forms overlying one another in different positions on the table, of means to secure the sheets in their assembled relation on the table, a carriage on which the table is rotatably mounted to form a platen, having its 'axis near the vertical plane of the rear end of the machine frame and near the upper level of the machine frame, the table, when in said position, extends upwardly above the machineframe and rear wardly beyond the machine frame, mechanism located below and forward of the platen axle for driving the carriage and controlling the letter-feed travel thereof, and

a type-system located in front of the platen,

the platen being rotatable from said pos1- tion to reduce either the vertical. or the forward and rearward dimensions of the ma chine by'carrying the sheet supporting surface below or forward of said axis.

LYMAN R. ROBERTS,

WVitnesses:

l/VpO. Vl nsTrHAL, E. A. RENNIE.

by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. G.

whereby 

